Scottish Executive

Air Services

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how many air routes subsidised under the Interim Route Development Fund have encouraged more inward visits to Scotland than outward visits from Scotland.

Nicol Stephen: The Interim Route Development Fund (IRDF) can invest in new direct air routes which improve business connectivity, enhance inward investment prospects and encourage in-bound tourism. All new routes, on which offers of investment have been made, have been evaluated as having satisfied one or more of these objectives. The routes which have been subject to investment will be fully evaluated again after a full year of operation to enable a reasonable and objective analysis of the fund's impact.

Air Services

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any analysis has been made of travellers using air routes subsidised by the Interim Route Development Fund in respect of social class and reasons for travelling and, if so, what the results were of any such analysis.

Nicol Stephen: The first new direct service which was subject to investment from the Interim Route Development Fund (IRDF) began at the end of March 2003. Any evaluation of the new routes will be based on a full year of operation to enable a reasonable and objective analysis of the fund's impact.

Air Services

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is being consulted over any plans to rename Prestwick International Airport as Robert Burns International Airport.

Nicol Stephen: Any plan to rename Glasgow Prestwick International Airport as Robert Burns International Airport is a commercial decision for the airport operator and there is no formal requirement to consult the Executive.

Animal Welfare

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include a specific question with regard to shoeing horses in its forthcoming consultation on animal welfare.

Allan Wilson: The forthcoming consultation on animal welfare has still to be finalised but it is our intention specifically to seek views on the shoeing of horses.

Animal Welfare

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many investigations into alleged cases of cruelty to, and neglect of, animals have been carried out in each year since 1999 by (a) the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, (b) the police, (c) its Environment and Rural Affairs Department and (d) local authorities.

Allan Wilson: Information pertaining to investigations carried out by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the police and local authorities is not held centrally. The State Veterinary Service, on behalf of the Environment and Rural Affairs Department, undertook the following visits to farms following complaints about farm animal welfare:

  


Year

Number of Visits



1999

333



2000

319



2001

167



2002

194



2003

238

Arts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent by the Scottish Arts Council on literature in each year since 1997, expressed also as a percentage of total Arts Council expenditure in each year.

Mr Frank McAveety: Scottish Arts Council has provided figures as set out in the following table. The figures do not include National Lottery funding.

  


Financial Year 

Literature Grant Expenditure (£'000)

Total Grant Expenditure (£'000)

Literature Exp as a % of Total Grant Expenditure



1996-97

1,097

24,048

4.6



1997-98

1,078

25,706

4.2



1998-99

1,064

25,319

4.2



1999-2000

1,085

28,948

3.7



2000-01

1,267

29,975

4.2



2001-02

1,417

33,706

4.2



2002-03

1,479

34,384

4.3

Arts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on literature by the Scottish Enterprise Creative Industries cluster team in each year since its inception and how much will be spent on literature by the team in each year to 2006.

Mr Frank McAveety: I have asked Robert Crawford, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, to respond. His response is as follows:

  A summary of Creative Industries Cluster Investment in Publishing to date is as follows. 2001-02, £67,800; 2002-03, £183,250; 2003-04, £62,000. The total to date is £313,050. Future budgets are yet to be determined but support for this activity will remain a key part of our cluster strategy.

Breastfeeding

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it allocated specifically to support and promote breastfeeding in each year since May 1999, expressed also as a percentage of the total health budget in each year.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following table contains information regarding funding the Scottish Executive has allocated specifically to support and promote breastfeeding in each year since May 1999, expressed also as a percentage of the total health budget in each year.

  This table only contains information about funding specifically and solely for breastfeeding support and promotion. The Scottish Executive also fund initiatives where breastfeeding support and promotion forms part of a larger project, including the Starting Well Demonstration Project and the Scottish Healthy Choice Awards.

  It is also important to note that no specific funding has been allocated to NHS boards to support breastfeeding. NHS boards are given an annual unified budget to meet the health care needs of their resident populations. It is for boards to determine, within the funds available, how to manage and deliver local health care services to meet these needs taking account of national and local priorities.

  


Year End

CSO 1 (£)

SBG 2 (£)

NBA 3 (£)
Other 4
(£)
Total
(£)
Total Health Budget
(£ billiion)

Percentage of Total Health Budget



2000
 

5000

32,000
 

37,000

4.941

0.0007



2001

20,836

5000

32,000
 

57,836

5.380

0.0011



2002

19,394

5000

32,000
 

56,394

6.197

0.0009



2003

19,225

5000

32,000
 

56,225

6.880

0.0008



2004 

302,880p

5000

32,000

60,000  

339,880

7.241

0.0046



  pprovisional

  Notes:

  1. This represents research funding allocated by the Chief Scientists Office (CSO) of the Scottish Executive.

  2. This represents research funding allocated by the Scottish Executive for the work of the Scottish Breastfeeding Group.

  3. This represents research funding allocated by the Scottish Executive for the work of the National Breastfeeding Advisor.

  4. This represents funding given to NHS Ayrshire and Arran for the development of peer support projects in areas of multiple disadvantage, though this was not funded by the Health Department and as such is not included in the total spend or percentage of total health budget.

Breastfeeding

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it allocated specifically to support breastfeeding in each NHS board area in each year since May 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: No specific funding has been allocated to NHS boards to support breastfeeding. NHS boards are given an annual unified budget to meet the health care needs of their resident populations. It is for boards to determine, within the funds available, how to manage and deliver local health care services to meet these needs taking account of national and local priorities.

  I also refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-5498 on 26 January 2004 for further information about breastfeeding funding. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Breastfeeding

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to NHS Health Scotland, and its predecessor organisations, for the promotion of breastfeeding in each year since May 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: No funding has been allocated to NHS Health Scotland and its predecessor organisations specifically to promote breastfeeding. It is for NHS Health Scotland to determine how it uses its funding, whilst taking into account national priorities.

  The following table shows the funds that NHS Health Scotland and its predecessor organisations have used for the promotion of breastfeeding in each year since year end 2000.

  


Year End

Organisation

Amount (£000)



2000

Health Education Board for Scotland

35



2001

Health Education Board for Scotland

195



2002

Health Education Board for Scotland

426



2003

Health Education Board for Scotland

70



2004

NHS Health Scotland

230

Breastfeeding

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to fund the work of the National Breastfeeding Adviser in each year since May 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has allocated £32,000 each year since May 1999 to fund the work of the National Breastfeeding Advisor.

Breastfeeding

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to fund the work and operation of the Scottish Breastfeeding Group in each year since May 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Breastfeeding Group has been allocated £5,000 each year since 1999 to fund its work and operation.

Breastfeeding

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each NHS board has spent on the support and promotion of breastfeeding in each year since May 1999, expressed also as a percentage of the total expenditure of each board.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.

Caledonian MacBrayne

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place with Caledonian MacBrayne anent ordering replacement vessels for its passenger ferry fleet.

Nicol Stephen: Caledonian MacBrayne's need for additional or replacement vessels is kept under review and there are regular discussions with the company on such matters. We recently announced plans to make funding available to the company for a new £8.75 million sheltered water vessel for the Wemyss Bay-Rothesay route. We are also in discussion with the company about its longer term investment proposals.

  The process of ordering vessels must be conducted in accordance with EU public procurement procedures. Caledonian MacBrayne has considerable experience in following these procedures.

Central Heating Programme

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households in (a) West Renfrewshire and (b) Scotland have benefited from the central heating installation programme and what the average waiting time is for such work to be completed.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Information is not kept in the form requested. For the private sector the information is held by postcode area and in the PA postcode area 1,367 systems have been installed to date. The total Scotland figure for all sectors is 28,672 to date. The average waiting time in the private sector is five months, but average waiting times in the public sector are not available. However, all council housing without a central heating systems are due to have one installed by April 2004 if the tenant wants it and RSLs are due to complete their programme by December 2004.

Children and Young People

Campbell Martin (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding provided to local authorities in relation to their responsibilities for looked after children is ring-fenced for the purpose of providing direct benefits to children in care.

Euan Robson: Funding for looked after children is not ring fenced and we have no plans to do so. It is up to each local authority how it allocates funding, taking account of local needs and priorities as well as national priorities. All local authorities in Scotland have benefited from above inflation increases in revenue grant this year and over the next two years.

Concessionary Travel

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the delivery of its proposed national concessionary travel scheme for older people is estimated to cost and how this estimate was calculated.

Nicol Stephen: Firm estimates of the cost of the proposed national free off-peak bus concessionary travel scheme for older people and people with disabilities will be developed in light of the discussions which are taking place with key stakeholders on the technical questions arising in terms of re-imbursement mechanisms and the research and analysis which will be required to support these discussions.

Concessionary Travel

John Swinburne (Central Scotland) (SSCUP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation paper on its national concessionary travel scheme for elderly and disabled people will be issued; how the consultation paper will be distributed, and to whom.

Nicol Stephen: The consultation paper on concessionary travel will be issued as soon as practicable. It will be distributed by post to key stakeholders, including groups representing older people.

Council Tax

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households with an annual household income over £40,000 live in (a) band D, (b) band E and (c) band F and above local authority properties, expressed also as a percentage of all households in such properties.

Tavish Scott: Estimates of the number of households in Scotland broken down by council tax band and household income level are only available for all households types together, and were reported in the answer to question S2W-3285 on 9 December 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search . Data on household income and council tax level specifically for households occupying local authority properties are not available.

Council Tax

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £285 million council tax rebate grant paid by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) was paid to each local authority in 2001-02.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is given in the following table. This is as reported to the Scottish Executive by local authorities.

  


Council Tax Benefit - DWP Contribution



2001-02

£000



Scotland

285,131



Aberdeen City

8,262



Aberdeenshire

5,491



Angus

3,864



Argyll and Bute

4,730



Clackmannanshire

2,941



Dumfries and Galloway

6,022



Dundee City

11,456



East Ayrshire

7,376



East Dunbartonshire

3,455



East Lothian

3,922



East Renfrewshire

2,656



Edinburgh City

21,436



Eilean Siar

1,252



Falkirk

6,088



Fife

15,232



Glasgow City

70,147



Highland

8,443



Inverclyde

5,856



Mid Lothian

3,701



Moray

2,592



North Ayrshire

7,787



North Lanarkshire

20,370



Orkney Islands

517



Perth and Kinross

4,390



Renfrewshire

10,427



Scottish Borders

3,405



Shetland Islands

446



South Ayrshire

5,466



South Lanarkshire

18,249



Stirling

3,414



West Dunbartonshire

8,450



West Lothian

7,288



  Source: As reported by councils on LFR 12 returns to the Executive.

Crown Estate

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had since 1999 with the Crown Estate Commission regarding the subjects it has selected for research funded by the commission into seabed, inshore and foreshore matters.

Allan Wilson: Until recently the Executive was represented on the Crown Estate's Fish Farming Research Committee (CEFFRC). The Committee enabled stakeholders to direct available funds to aquaculture research. The CEFFRC has since been superseded by the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum, which will be formally established shortly.

General Practitioners

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent vacant GP posts there are in the Highland NHS board area, expressed also as a percentage of all full-time equivalent GP posts.

Malcolm Chisholm: The most recent information available is shown in the following table.

  Unrestricted Principal Equivalents (UPEs) 1 in Highland Health Board: As at 1 October 2003P

  


Whole Time Equivalent (WTE)


All UPEs posts 2
UPEs
Vacated posts 3
Vacated posts 
as a % of all UPEs posts



213.0

6.0

2.8



  PProvisional

  Source: General medical practitioner database. ISD Scotland.

  1. Unrestricted principals in General Medical Services (GMS) and their equivalents in Personal Medical Services (PMS) practices.

  2. Establishment WTE (i e includes vacated posts).

  3. Excludes "new" posts which may have been created but not yet filled.

Health

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many health centres there are in the West of Scotland region, broken down by constituency.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for relevant NHS boards and primary care trusts. The information required is not held centrally.

Health

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to build any new, or relocate any, health centres in the West of Scotland region over the next three years.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for relevant NHS boards and primary care trusts. The information requested is not held centrally.

Health

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many health centres in the West of Scotland region have had to close their lists in the last five years, broken down by constituency.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not available.

  The terms of service for general practitioners are set out in regulations. These require that a general practitioner does not have a patient list which exceeds 3,500. If that number is reached the general practitioner should accept no more applications from patients to join the list and the NHS board should not place with the general practitioner any of the patients which it is obliged to assign to a doctor. On occasion general practitioners inform the board that for various reasons, such as when a partner is on long term study leave, they do not wish additional patients for the time being and are not granting applications from patients. If it is necessary for the board to choose such a general practitioner when making a patient assignment, however, the general practitioner would be obliged to accept the patient if the list size had not reached the maximum.

Health

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average age is of health centres in the West of Scotland region, broken down by constituency.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for relevant NHS boards and primary care trusts. The information requested is not held centrally.

Health

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new health centres have been built in the West of Scotland region in the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for relevant NHS boards and primary care trusts. The information requested is not held centrally.

Hospitals

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much NHS Argyll and Clyde received for the sale of the land and buildings of Broadstone Hospital in Port Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Argyll and Clyde. The information requested is not held centrally.

Housing

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to improve protection for private rented sector tenants against any landlords who retain deposits unfairly.

Ms Margaret Curran: We see the management of tenancy deposits as an integral part of good management and so do not at present have proposals to establish a separate system for controlling the management of deposits.

  We are committed to encouraging high standards of management in the private rented sector. The work done so far to take forward the partnership agreement commitment to develop core standards for voluntary accreditation schemes has included the issue of tenancy deposits and their return. The Housing Improvement Task Force has recommended strengthened powers of regulation to complement the voluntary route of accreditation and, as I said on 16 December when I announced by response to the task force proposals, we will explore the possibility of a national registration scheme for all private landlords.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many eviction applications have been made by Glasgow Housing Association since the completion of the Glasgow housing stock transfer.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  We are unable to supply the information requested. Communities Scotland collects the information on evictions on an annual basis (as at 31 March each year). We will be able to supply annual information about evictions for this organisation after they submit their return in June this year.

Justice

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to re-examine the rules and regulations in relation to exemptions from jury service.

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce rules and regulations in relation to the exemption of students from jury service.

Cathy Jamieson: We have no current plans to do so.

  Any person cited for jury service may be excused by the clerk of court, if they show good reason for excusal. The trial judge also has the power of excusal. A sympathetic view would generally be taken of requests for excusal if attendance would cause genuine problems.

Marine Environment

Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive where the third phase of the Sustainable Scottish Marine Environment Initiative will be piloted; what this phase will involve, and whether there will be a moratorium on new aquaculture developments in the pilot locations while the local communities are consulted about the management of their coastal resources.

Allan Wilson: No decision has yet been taken on where the third phase of the Sustainable Scottish Marine Environment Initiative (SSMEI) will be piloted. The third phase of SSMEI is intended to implement and evaluate the pilot management schemes that are being specified under Phase II at present. The pilot management schemes will be aimed at testing the effectiveness of differing alternative approaches to the sustainable development of Scotland's marine environment.

  However, the locational issues for aquaculture developments are being addressed through the location/re-location working group, which is developing criteria to assess whether existing farms are poorly located and to consult, in due course, with industry and other stakeholders on their proposals.

Maternity Services

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many live, single, premature babies have been born, expressed also as a percentage of all births, in each NHS board area in each year since 1998-99, broken down by deprivation quintile.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is given in table 1, a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 30606).

Maternity Services

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many live, single, premature births there have been, expressed as a percentage of all premature births, in each NHS board area in each year since 1998-99, broken down by deprivation quintile.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is given in table 1, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 30607).

Maternity Services

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4186 by Malcolm Chisholm on 2 December 2003, what percentage of new-born babies in each NHS board area has been cared for in a neonatal unit in each year since 1998-99.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is given in table 1, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 30609).

Maternity Services

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Borders NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Argyll and Clyde NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Fife NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Greater Glasgow NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Highland NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Lanarkshire NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Grampian NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Lothian NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Tayside NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Forth Valley NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4177 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, what the average running cost has been of a neonatal cot in the Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board area in each year since 1998-99.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is given in table 1, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 30610).

Maternity Services

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4176 by Malcolm Chisholm on 10 December 2003, how many neonatal cots were available in neonatal units in each hospital in 2002-03, broken down by NHS board.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4990 on 19 January 2004. All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Money Advice

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further support it will provide to the money advice sector in Scotland.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: As part of our Partnership for a Better Scotland, commitment to extend support for the money advice sector in Scotland, I am announcing new additional funding of £4 million over the next two years (£1 million in 2004-05 and £3 million in 2005-06). This will be used to ensure money advice is available and accessible to some of the most vulnerable groups of people, as well as making certain there are enough approved money advisers to carry out functions required by the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002.

NHS Staff

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff there are involved in paediatric medicine in each NHS board area broken down by (a) grade and (b) hospital, detailing any specialisms in paediatric medicine that such staff undertake.

Malcolm Chisholm: A table detailing the headcount of paediatric medical staff by grade and NHS Board at September 2002 has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 30695).

NHS Staff

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff specialise in paediatric intensive care, broken down by (a) grade, (b) hospital and (c) NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The most recent available information is provided in the answer given to question S2W-4899 on 26 January 2004. A more detailed breakdown of clinical roles is not available centrally.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

NHS Staff

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average salary is of an (a) doctor and (b) nurse, giving average figures at different grades and levels of qualification.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not available in the detail requested.

  The average salary of a doctor in 2002 (the latest year for which figures are available) is £43,401 and a nurse £20,020.

NHS Staff

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees have left NHS Argyll and Clyde in each of the last five years, stating their position, and grade and reasons for leaving, and what the consequential annual saving were in salary expenditure, broken down by grade.

Malcolm Chisholm: Limited information on leavers and joiners is available by comparing staff in post on each census date. Staff who appear in one census but not the next are presumed to have left. However if an employee joins and leaves NHSScotland between census points, they will not be included. As such any figures shown may underestimate the total number of leavers.

  Table 1 shows the number of consultants leaving NHS Argyll and Clyde in each of the last five years by reason for leaving; Table 2 shows the number of nursing and midwifery staff; Table 3 shows the number of allied health professionals (AHP) leaving NHS Argyll and Clyde in each of the last five years by qualification status.

  Table 1

  

 

1997-98

1998-99

1999-2000

2000-01

2001-02



Retiral

1

4

3

3

3



Death

0

1

0

0

1



Lateral move

3

3

0

2

6



Unknown/other

5

10

2

5

5



Total leaving

9

18

5

10

15



  Source: Medical and Dental Census, ISD Scotland.

  Table 2.

  




1997-98

1998-99

1999-2000

2000-01

2001-02



Qualified Nursing and Midwifery Staff

233

236

249

276

284



Unqualified Nursing and Midwifery Staff

148

169

143

154

176



Total leaving

381

405

392

430

460



  Source: National Manpower Statistics from Payroll, ISD Scotland.

  Table 3.

  




1997-98

1998-99

1999-2000

2000-01

2001-02



Qualified AHP Staff

41

60

56

49

61



Unqualified AHP Staff

14

13

13

13

11



Total leaving

55

73

69

62

72



  Source: National Manpower Statistics from Payroll, ISD Scotland.

  Information on salary expenditure is not known.

NHS Staff

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees who left NHS Argyll and Clyde have subsequently been re-employed as either direct employees or on job-specific contracts in each of the last five years and what the total cost has been of re-employing these staff, broken down by grade.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not available centrally.

NHS Staff

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to eliminate or reduce NHS reliance on agency staff.

Malcolm Chisholm: We are committed to improving patient services by supporting new ways of working that reflect best practice and offer innovative solutions to workforce issues including reducing the reliance on agency staff.

  NHS employers have been asked to implement the recommendations made in the Audit Scotland Report Temporary Measures (2000) and Planning Ward Nursing-Legacy or Design (2002) on the use of bank and agency nurses. NHSTayside has shown the way by reducing total nurse bank and agency hours by over 60% in the period April 2001-December 2003.

  The Scottish Executive is committed to implementing nationally co-ordinated nurse bank arrangements to improve patient services and reduce expenditure on agency nursing. A project is currently underway to develop and cost options for delivering on this commitment and will report in May 2004.

NHS Waiting Times

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients had been waiting longer than nine months for in-patient treatment at the end of 2003.

Malcolm Chisholm: Validated waiting times figures for 31 December 2003 will be published by ISD Scotland on its "NHSScotland Acute Activity, Waiting Times and Waiting Lists" website on Thursday 26 February 2004.

NHS Waiting Times

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets are set by (a) Greater Glasgow NHS Board and (b) Forth Valley NHS Board for the waiting time for a patient to secure an orthopaedic appointment.

Malcolm Chisholm: Partnership for Care: Scotland's Health White Paper includes the commitment that no patient will wait more than 26 weeks for a first outpatient at a consultant-led clinic, following referral, by the end of 2005.

  As part of the local health plan process, the national waiting times unit is currently meeting with NHS boards to agree local targets for 2004-05, which demonstrate good progress towards attainment of the 26 weeks target.

NHS Waiting Times

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time was for an orthopaedic appointment in (a) Greater Glasgow NHS Board and (b) Forth Valley NHS Board at the end of December 2003.

Malcolm Chisholm: Provisional information for the year ended 30 September 2003 shows that the median waiting times for a first outpatient appointment with a consultant in the specialty of Orthopaedics, following referral by a general medical practitioner, in Greater Glasgow NHS Board and Forth Valley NHS Board areas of residence, were 129 days and 230 days respectively.

  Waiting times figures for 31 December 2003 will be published by ISD Scotland on 26 February 2004.

National Health Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the local improvement finance trust funding system used by the NHS in England and whether it plans to adopt a similar system.

Malcolm Chisholm: Officials have monitored the development and implementation of NHS LIFT over the past three years. Neither Scottish Ministers nor bodies appointed by them currently have the statutory powers to form or participate in forming companies for the provision of health services.

  A report by the Short Life Working Group on Joint Premises Development, which included representatives from the Scottish Executive, NHSScotland and COSLA, was issued on 10 July 2003. The report recommended that statutory powers should be sought to allow the forming of joint ventures and that any proposals would be subject to further consultation. The report specifically recommended that any resulting consultation would include specific consideration of the NHS LIFT model and its possible application in Scotland. This matter is currently being assessed.

National Health Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of whether the local improvement finance trust model used by the NHS in England can be modified to perform as a not-for-profit trust.

Malcolm Chisholm: Neither Scottish ministers nor bodies appointed by them currently have the statutory powers to form or participate in forming companies for the provision of health services.

  Any proposals for the implementation of the NHS LIFT model, or variants thereof, would be subject to consultation prior to seeking legislative powers to facilitate the formation of joint ventures. There is no presumption at this stage for or against the use of a not-for profit model.

National Health Service

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the contents of Audit Scotland's report, Overview of the National Health Service in Scotland 2002-03 , whether it will now consider establishing a whistle-blowing network to highlight abuses of public funds within the NHS and other public services.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHSScotland Counter Fraud Services has operated a free phone fraud hotline since January 2001. Originally aimed at uncovering fraud by patients and family health service practitioners, the hotline may now be used by anyone within or outwith the NHS, including members of the general public who wishes to report anonymously any incident of potential fraud or other irregularities in or against NHSScotland. The existence of this number and the fact that calls may be made anonymously are featured in all publicity campaigns and material by NHSScotland Counter Fraud Services, together with a message of encouragement to make use of the free phone number, rather than turning a blind eye to NHS fraud. The NHSScotland website which went live during 2002-03 as part of the Scottish Health on the Web website, also allows confidential reporting of potential NHS fraud online by anyone who accesses the website.

  Partnership Information Guideline entitled Dealing with Employee Concerns was issued to NHSScotland employers in January 2002. This includes a freedom of speech policy and provides employees with a range of options through which they can raise any concerns they may have in the widest sense.

  In the wider context, the Scottish Executive is committed to taking all practicable steps to prevent and detect fraud across the public sector and has a range of measures already in place which are aimed highlighting fraudulent activity. Within the Executive these measures include the identification of an initial contact point, the fraud response co-ordinator; to receive information about suspected frauds, either by telephone (using a fraud hot-line) or in writing, from individual members of staff, who may wish to remain anonymous. The Executive also requires public bodies to have in place fraud response arrangements appropriate to their own circumstances.

National Health Service

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were prescribed (a) donepezil, (b) rivastigmine, (c) galantamine and (d) memantine in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Malcolm Chisholm: The data available centrally are not patient-specific. Data collated centrally relate to the numbers and cost of prescribed items dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors. These data are given in the following table for the calendar years 1998 to 2002 inclusive. The data are presented on a national basis in order not to disclose information that may relate to an individual patient.

  Donepezil (Aricept®) became available from April 1997, Rivastigmine (Exelon®) from July 1998, Galantamine (Reminyl®) from September 2000 and Memantine (Ebixa®) from October 2002.

  Number of Prescribed Items: All NHS Boards

  

 

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002



Donepezil

2,932

4,719

7,023

11,769

19,261



Rivastigmine

 128

1,418

3,694

 5,044

 6,098



Galantamine

0

0

 68

 2,009

 4,192



Memantine

0

0

0

0

 100



  The information in the table has been provided by ISD Scotland.

People with Disabilities

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop accessible subsidised transport provision for people with disabilities who are unable to access public transport.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive is committed to ensuring that public transport is accessible to people with disabilities. Under the partnership agreement the Executive is committed to assessing improved public transport concessions for disabled people.

  The assessment will, among other things, look at the barriers to accessible transport for disabled people, enhanced concessionary fares and options for door to door travel. To achieve this we will work with public transport providers, the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland, voluntary and other interested bodies. We are about to commence a public consultation on how best to take forward the assessment and extending the concessionary bus fare scheme to a national off-peak scheme for older and disabled people.

  Ministers have also approved a £0.5 million per annum budget to pilot rural demand responsive transport between 2004-06 and a further £0.5 million per annum to pilot urban community transport/demand responsive transport over the same period.

Planning

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the proposed wind farm at Corlic Hill, Gryffe Valley.

Lewis Macdonald: We consulted widely in compliance with statutory requirements. Representations were received from the following:

  


Argyll and Bute Council



British Airport Authority



British Telecom Radio Solutions Unit



Civil Aviation Authority Directorate of Airspace Policy



Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park



Crown Estate



Defence Estates (MoD)



Department of Trade and Industry



Dunrod Angling Club



Health and Safety Executive



Historic Scotland



Inverclyde Council



Keep Corlic Wild



Kilmacolm Civic Trust



Port Glasgow Angling Club



Ramblers' Association



Royal Air Force



Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland



Scottish Environment Protection Agency



Scottish Natural Heritage


Scottish Executive Freshwater Fisheries


Scottish Executive Road Network Management and Maintenance Division


Scottish Executive SEPA Sponsorship and Waste: Waste Regulation Team


Scottish Executive Water Environment Unit



  In addition, the public consultation period ended on 24 June 2003 and we received 146 representations: 139 objections to the proposal and seven in support.

Planning

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to local authorities in respect of notification to neighbours of amendments to approved planning applications.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Scottish Executive has not issued guidance on this particular aspect of neighbour notification. However, where a planning authority deems that an alteration to the approved proposals represents a material change, then they should request the submission of a new planning application. This will require the applicant to carry out the necessary neighbour notification procedures for the new application.

Population

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage overseas students at Scottish universities to live and work in Scotland after they graduate.

Mr Andy Kerr: The First Minister announced in September 2003 the proposal to set up, by autumn 2004, a national relocation advice service centre. This would give advice to a diverse range of clients expressing an interest in living and working in Scotland. Early focus will be on retaining students on completion of their studies. We will encourage students who utilise our excellent higher education facilities to remain in Scotland after they graduate. One of the aims of the initiative is to help facilitate the process for foreign students to remain in Scotland after graduation should they wish to do so.

Public Bodies

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the use of alternative dispute resolution by its departments, the NHS and other government bodies.

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive supports in principle the use of alternative dispute resolution where feasible and appropriate. It is a matter for each individual department and public body to determine what use to make of alternative dispute resolution.

Road Safety

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many lives saved and injuries have been prevented as a result of its annual campaigns on driving with excessive speed or under the influence of alcohol or drugs in each of the last three years.

Nicol Stephen: Deaths and serious injuries on Scotland's roads fell by 9.6% between 2000 and 2002. In 2000 3,893 people were killed or seriously injured, in 2001 3,755 and in 2002 3,518, so at the end of the three year period there were 375 fewer fatal or serious casualties than at the beginning. These reductions in road accidents and casualties reflect the impact of a range of road safety measures, such as action to address driving with excessive speed or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including advertising.

  More must be done. We will continue to increase our efforts to improve road safety, but this evidence suggests that the combination of measures is having a significant impact in helping to cut deaths and serious injuries on Scotland's roads. It is not possible to definitely attribute the improvement in deaths and injuries to any individual measure.

Road Safety

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking regarding the use of seatbelts on school buses.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive issued revised guidance to education authorities on school transport issues in August 2003. Circular 7/2003, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 29135), reminds them of their duty of care for the safety of pupils, including pupils using school transport, and makes it clear that all statutory requirements must be complied with.

  The guidance sets out the legal requirements with regard to the fitting of seat belts in vehicles used to transport children on organised school trips, including home to school transport. It also encourages local authorities to consider how best to ensure that children use seat belts, where these are provided.

Road Safety

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the number of road deaths and casualties.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive is addressing road safety through a combination of engineering, enforcement and education.

  The Executive has set targets for a 40% reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured in road accidents and a 50% reduction in those figures for children by 2010, compared with the average for the years 1994-98. Good progress has been made. By 2002 the number of deaths and serious casualties was 27% below, and the number of child deaths and serious casualties was 38% below the baseline.

  The Executive provides funding to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign for the development of key road safety education initiatives and publicity messages. The campaign has produced a range of educational resources, many aimed at children, and has mounted effective publicity campaigns, focussing on drink and drug driving, speeding, seat belt use and young driver safety.

  The Executive funds free membership of the Children's Traffic Club in Scotland, which offers road safety training to all three and four year old children in Scotland.

  The Executive is providing funding for local authorities, totalling up to £27 million between 2003 and 2006, for the introduction of 20 mph speed limits outside schools and related safety projects.

  The Executive is also providing funding totalling £1,080,000 over five years for pilot child pedestrian training schemes. Twelve selected local authorities are receiving funding to enable them to set up and run schemes to train five and six year old children in pedestrian skills.

  The Executive is providing local authorities with dedicated funding of nearly £38 million for cycling, walking and safer streets projects over the period 2000-06.

  The Executive is also funding school travel co-ordinator posts within all Scottish local authorities.

Road Safety

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its recent decision to award funding to local authorities for 20 mph speed restrictions outside schools, whether it will allow local authorities to use this money for other purposes such as improved gritting on school bus routes.

Nicol Stephen: The capital funding being made available by the Executive to local authorities for the introduction of 20 mph speed limits around schools can also be used for safer routes to school projects and the development of home zones. A wide range of measures can be implemented under safer routes to school schemes, including crossings for pedestrians and cyclists, the provision of footways and cycle-ways, and traffic free entrances to schools. This specific additional funding does not cover the gritting of roads.

  Non-trunk roads are the responsibility of the local authorities concerned, and their funding forms part of the general local government finance settlement. It is entirely a matter for individual authorities to decide what priority should be given to the maintenance and improvement, including gritting, of each road for which they are responsible.

Road Safety

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents occurred on the B822 between the Gonachan Bridge, Fintry and the border with East Dunbartonshire, north of Lennoxtown, in each of the last 10 years.

Nicol Stephen: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats 19 statistical report format. These returns cover only accidents in which one or more people were injured: they do not cover damage only accidents.

  The table gives the numbers of injury road accidents which were identified in the STATS 19 returns as occurring on the B822 between the point where that road crosses the Gonachan Burn and the point where it crosses the East Dunbartonshire Local Authority boundary, north of Lennoxtown, in the years 1993 to 2002 inclusive.

  It should be noted that the statistics given in the table are based upon the data which are held in the central statistical database and which were collected by the police at the time of the accident and subsequently reported to the Executive. They may differ from any figures which the local authority would provide now, because they do not take account of any subsequent changes or corrections that the local authority may have made to the statistical information, for use at a local level, about the location of each accident, based upon its knowledge of the road and area concerned.

  


Year

Number of injury road accidents that occurred on the B822 between the point where that road crosses the Gonachan Burn and the point where it crosses the East Dunbartonshire Local Authority boundary, north of Lennoxtown.



1993

2



1994

0



1995

3



1996

1



1997

1



1998

0



1999

0



2000

1



2001

1



2002

0



Total

9

Roads

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-30963 by Lewis Macdonald on 13 November 2002 and S2W-1722 and S2W-3993 by Nicol Stephen on 29 August and 26 November 2003, which towns other than Glasgow and Cumbernauld are (a) currently bisected by a motorway and (b) awaiting the outcome of proposals for a motorway that would bisect them.

Nicol Stephen: Motorways pass through or are planned to pass through Glasgow and Cumbernauld but no motorway bisects or is planned to bisect any town in Scotland.

Roads

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider funding the dualling of the A709 Dumfries to Lockerbie route to provide fast access from Dumfries and the A75 to the M74.

Nicol Stephen: The A709 is a local road which is the responsibility of Dumfries and Galloway Council. The Executive has no current plans to trunk the A709 or fund dualling of the route.

Roads

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any estimate of the cost of dualling the A709 Dumfries to Lockerbie route and, if so, what the estimated cost is.

Nicol Stephen: The A709 is a local road, and is the responsibility of Dumfries and Galloway Council. The Scottish Executive has not undertaken any estimates of the cost of dualling the route.

Roads

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether dualling the A709 Dumfries to Lockerbie route would necessitate the de-trunking of other roads in the Dumfries and Galloway area and, if so, which roads would be de-trunked.

Nicol Stephen: The question of whether it may be appropriate to trunk or de-trunk routes in relation to a possible future improvement scheme would be considered in relation to the nature of that scheme and the route involved. The Executive has no plans to trunk the A709 or fund dualling of the route.

Roads

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements are scheduled to take place to the A90 on the sections from Balmedie to Tipperty and Ellon to Peterhead over the next 10 years.

Nicol Stephen: An appraisal of the stretch of the A90 between Balmedie and Tipperty has recently been completed, using Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG), and we are considering its conclusions.

  On the stretch of the A90 between Ellon and Peterhead, carriageway realignment work is programmed to straighten out a series of bends, known as the Hatton Bends. This project will also involve the upgrading of a junction and the replacement of Midmill Bridge. Work is also scheduled to take place to improve the Cruden Bay North Junction with the installation of a deceleration lane.

Roads

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what share of the total budget for the proposed online upgrade of the A80 is being provided by European structural funds, expressed both in cash and percentage terms.

Nicol Stephen: None.

Roads

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any steps have been taken to design the proposed online route for the M80 extension from Stepps to Haggs to protect the Roman fortlet at Mollins and, if not, whether it has any plans to fund a full excavation and recording of the site.

Nicol Stephen: The current scheme design will minimise and restrict the impact on the Fort to a small area. Any required excavation and recording will therefore be restricted to this area with the majority of the site remaining undisturbed.

Roads

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider reducing the speed limit on the A99 as it passes through Thrumster.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has no plans to reduce the speed limit on the A99 through Thrumster. However, Village Gateway signing is programmed to be installed before the end of March 2004.

Scottish Executive Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue an apology for the fact that it has not ensured that suppliers of goods and services to the Executive are paid on time and, in particular, in respect of the 12-month period where nearly one-third of its bills were not paid on time.

Mr Andy Kerr: I have written to the main business organisations in Scotland about this, informing them of the improvement in the Scottish Executive's performance in achieving prompt payment of invoices this year. In December 2003, over 87% of invoices were paid within the 30 day target period. I am keen to improve performance even further.

Scottish Natural Heritage

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a mobility clause in the contracts of employees of Scottish Natural Heritage and, if so, whether it will place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Allan Wilson: Employee contracts are an operational matter for Scottish Natural Heritage.

Scottish Water

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what direction it has given to Scottish Water regarding its policy for providing grant assistance to (a) individuals and (b) developers towards the cost of water pumps in rural areas.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has not issued any directions to Scottish Water on these matters.

Scottish Water

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what direction it has given to Scottish Water regarding the adoption by Scottish Water of water pumps and associated mains serving water consumers in rural areas.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has not issued any directions to Scottish Water on these matters.

Social Inclusion

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its action plan for the social economy.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: We are developing the action plan and hope to make an announcement shortly.

Sport

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost to introduce an 80% relief from business rates for all registered community amateur clubs, other than sports clubs.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information required to answer this question is not held centrally.

Street Furniture

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidelines are in place for local authorities for provision of street furnishing, such as lamp-posts and signs, to be marked with contrasting bandings in order that people with visual impairment can identify them more clearly and, if not, what steps will be taken to introduce such guidelines nationwide.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in the process of preparing revised guidance to help local authorities to prepare local transport strategies which the Scottish Executive would expect to address issues of accessibility. Local transport strategies are produced voluntarily by local authorities. However, the Scottish Executive strongly recommends that local authorities produce local transport strategies in accordance with guidance issued under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001.

  The Department for Transport has published a guide, Inclusive Mobility – A guide to best practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure, which is available to all local authorities and will be recommended in the local transport strategy guidance.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many test centres currently issue MOT certificates for taxis, broken down by local authority area, and whether it provides any advice to local authorities in respect of the number of centres in each area and their operation.

Tavish Scott: Under the provisions of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, it is for individual licensing authorities to determine the requirements for taxi testing and inspection for vehicles operating in their area, including where the necessary test certificate can be obtained from. Information is not available centrally on the number of MOT testing centres authorised by individual authorities to provide such services.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements each local authority currently places on registered taxis as a result of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and what percentage of taxis must be wheelchair-compliant and by what date.

Tavish Scott: The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 provides for the introduction of taxi accessibility regulations containing the minimum specification requirements for such vehicles. Such matters are reserved to the Westminster Parliament, although their application in Scotland is executively devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Until such time as the regulations are introduced, and their application in Scotland determined, licensing authorities, under the provisions of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, have discretion as to the type, size and design of taxi that may operate in their area, including whether they must be wheelchair accessible. While at present there is no statutory duty on licensing authorities to require taxis to be wheelchair accessible, the Scottish Executive have encouraged licensing authorities to use their discretionary powers to improve the availability of taxis to people with disabilities.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to further regulate the private hire trade; what its position is in respect of any alleged links between individuals involved in private hire companies and organised crime, and whether it will take any action, including seeking any necessary additional powers, to address this issue.

Tavish Scott: The existing legislative provisions relating to the licensing of private hire cars contained in the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 are currently under review. Independent of this, the Executive is aware of the alleged links between the operation of some private hire and taxi companies and organised crime and proposes to consult on what action, if any, should be taken to address these concerns.

Wildlife

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many endangered species are held in (a) zoos, (b) wildlife parks and (c) private collections.

Allan Wilson: This information is not held centrally.